Boehner and other Republicans say the latest jobs report is an indication the stimulus plan has not worked.

(CNN) - Republicans are taking aim at their Democratic colleagues over the latest jobs report indicating unemployment has risen to 9.5 percent, calling it evidence the massive economic stimulus bill pushed by President Obama earlier this year has not worked.

"Today's employment report reminds us that spending, taxing, and borrowing with reckless abandon is no way to create more jobs, yet that is exactly what Democrats in charge of Washington have done all year long," House Minority Leader John Boehner said in a statement. "Middle-class families and small businesses are hurting, and they're looking to Washington for real solutions that won't raise their taxes and drive future generations into even deeper debt."

The National Republican Congressional Committee also released a statement noting Obama administration officials once claimed the stimulus bill would contain the unemployment rate under 8 percent.

soundoff(220 Responses)

It took 8 years to get us in this mess. It will take more than 6 months to get us out. Without the stimulus things would be worse. The repukes are so predictable.

July 2, 2009 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

Party Crasher

Where are the jobs that the Republican Party claims that they can create?

July 2, 2009 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

DL

Once again....the pot calling the kettle black. But I guess it's ok when they gave billions of money to their friends which they didn't have to account for. Let's not forget the numerous tax cuts the rich were rewarded to 'create jobs'....that's your claim to fame, so where exactly are those jobs?? Stimulus might have been to small (due to somebody contributing nothing and trying to block it..wonder who that was), and many economists think there needs to be another because things were/are that bad. Repubs can continue to armchair quarterback because when it comes to trusting them to fix anything, I for one still think they should all be replaced for the mess they've created.

July 2, 2009 11:22 am at 11:22 am |

Stevensdot

Apparently the Republicans think their de-regulate and give more tax breaks to the rich mantra can still save us from our folly. This idea – if I the other side wrong then my side is right – has lost its bloom. Plenty of blame to go around guys.

July 2, 2009 11:23 am at 11:23 am |

Is this Boehnner for real?

This guy should not even be in public office. He'a a jerk! If I lived in his state I would be out there picketing against him. I've listened to him many times on Meet the Press. Know when he's on I watch another channel. I WAS a republican who is now a registered dem. My former party are the pocket fillers who have been always been out for themselves. Are we paying for his tan. He's not even what I would call handsome. We need alot more new blood in Congress and the Senate. We middleclass people are getting sick of carrying every poor and rich person on our backs. Times will be changing and the polls are going to be proving that. I live in Arizona and I will continue to vote John McCain out of office until he's gone. This coming election will be the cream on the pudding. The person who started all this is Bush and all you republicians. We have a mess in our country caused by the lot of you. And what about Stranton, wasn't he one who condemmed Bill Clinton. God, talk about throwing sticks and stones.

July 2, 2009 11:24 am at 11:24 am |

Margaret in NC

Any ten year old can tell you that the GOP caused this mess and now they would like to blame it on Obama and the Dems. So... why do we give air time to such silly claims?

July 2, 2009 11:26 am at 11:26 am |

Arlene, From Illinois

Oh John, its about time you get back in your tanning booth.

July 2, 2009 11:27 am at 11:27 am |

magella

The question about the stimulus jobs is valid. However, the larger unemployment trend was years in the making, and will take years to turn around. I work for a state government and we are being furloughed 16 days over the next two years–and we may not even be out of the woods then.

July 2, 2009 11:27 am at 11:27 am |

Ryan Indy

It was all a SHAM by Obama......If you give us 1.8 trillion dollars I will create so and so jobs by summer? Where are they at Obama??? How can the public keep believing this dudes lies???? Wake up America this guy is a FRAUD.

July 2, 2009 11:28 am at 11:28 am |

Jim

What a blowhard.

Actually, today's unemployment report should serve as a reminder of exactly what 8 long years of shoddy Republican mismanagement has done to the country and the sorry state to which our economy has been reduced under their watch.

July 2, 2009 11:28 am at 11:28 am |

Deb in Colo

...and it would be 12.5% if McCain had been elected. This is still fallout from the Bush years and the Republican know it.

July 2, 2009 11:28 am at 11:28 am |

queene4theday

If I recall only 3% of the stimulus mone has been put to use. 1/3rd of the American Auto industry is gone because we decided to build cars bigger and less fuel effiicient than needed. The reality no matter how you look at it....we won't get out of this mess over night!! But let me be the first to remind you, is it not Bank of America that is no playing commercials regarding credit opportunities?
It's easy to get mad and frustrated that we aren't seeing results as fast as we want to but again we didn't get into this mess overnight. And I love how the NRCC wants to continue to blame blame blame and not offer any real solutions. When the right wing can offer a solution that makes sense then I might just give you guys the floor to complain!

July 2, 2009 11:28 am at 11:28 am |

kishen c.rao

This Boehner does not talk any kind of sense....Why didn't he say so when Bush was president???????Bogus fellows....no national ethics...totally morally bankrupt...

July 2, 2009 11:29 am at 11:29 am |

barbara campbell

Job losses hit a high point just before President Obama took office and have been declining ever since. In May there was a pretty significant drop, so June is simply higher than May but lower than any month since last September.

As for Boehner's question about the stimulus-created jobs: first, the Republicans and some state governors (like Sanford) have blocked stimulus funds to ensure that Obama is seen as a failure. Second, it took Bush and the neocons eight years to make these messes and there's not going to be a turnaround in a matter of months during the Obama administration. President Obama is smart, conscientious, and a hard worker, and the American people understand that undoing the Republican damage will take time.

July 2, 2009 11:30 am at 11:30 am |

Mary

Is Boehner middle-class America? Where is all the money spend on the war that was pushed by the Repubs. Where were job growth with the Bush Administration with the Repubs in charge. It took the Repubs eight years to mess up every thing. Give Obama a break he has been fighting for the American people and the Republican party since the day he took the oath (twice). Let Boehner and the other Repubs tells us how to make it work if they know how and stop counting on taking seats from the Democrats in 2010. Do something worthwhile now and if the Democrats fail you will have no problems winning the seats. Stop fighting the American people and hoping that Obama fails so you can be in power again. We are the people you are paid to help and work with the president who is trying to help every body. John and the rest of the party should have paid more attention to Bush and fought against him and his policies and just maybe things would have been better for everyone. Can this president do anything right to satisfy the opposing Republican Party?

July 2, 2009 11:31 am at 11:31 am |

Donkey Party

No surprise, just more hypocrisy. If the RepubliCONS had it their way, the auto industry would've gone under taking hundreds of thousands of jobs with them. The GOP has zero solutions, only criticism. It's going to take a little longer than 6 months to undo the catastrophe caused by these same right-wingers that were at the wheel when they drove this country into the ditch with the Bush administration. I'm so sick of the Grand Obstructionist Party, I hope they all burn in hell for their lies, fear-mongering, and abuse of their duties as elected officials. And with a 60 member majority in the Senate, I hope Democrats ram every piece of conceivable legislation down the GOPPER'S throats, just like the right-wingers did during the Bush years, and just like how they would now if they had the majority.

July 2, 2009 11:31 am at 11:31 am |

60's survivor

as usual they continue to exaggerate and twist any logic into talking points and never anything meaningful. just same negative rhetoric!! so sad. Obama said from beginning the cure for the economy wasn't to be overnight. it took awhile to get into this ditch. which by the way was previosly condoned by the GOP now suddenly they are wringing their hands and telling the American people that the sky is falling!!! how covenient is that for the party of NO!!!!